Varney Air Lines was an American airline company that started service on April 6, 1926, as an airmail carrier. Formed by Walter Varney, the airline was based in Boise, Idaho, United States.[1] The airline is one of the predecessors of United Airlines.[2]
Varney Air Lines
Swallow J-5 built 1924 with markings of CAM 5 as operated by Varney Airlines—displayed at the Museum of Flight, Boeing Field, Seattle, May 1989
Walter T. Varney, founder of predecessors of Continental Airlines and United Airlines, 1921
In 1925, the Congress passed HR 7064 entitled "An Act to encourage commercial aviation and to authorize the Postmaster General to contract for Air Mail Service" (aka "The Kelly Act") which directed the U.S. Post Office Department to contract with private airlines to carry the mail over designated routes many of which connected with the Government operated Transcontinental Air Mail route between New York and San Francisco. Varney won the contract for CAM-5 as the only bidder. Its first flight under contract with the USPOD was from Pasco, Washington to Elko, Nevada with an intermediate stop in Boise. That air freight contract grew into the birth of one of the world's biggest airlines.
Pasco at the time was a rail center, more or less midway between Portland, Seattle, and Spokane. Mail trains leaving those cities in the evening arrived in Pasco early the next morning. Mail could be transferred to and from the biplanes cutting coast to coast delivery by days. This was the logic for basing the CAM service in Pasco.
First flightedit
Covers flown on the first flights eastbound and westbound over CAM-5
Pilot Leon D. Cuddeback flew the first eastbound CAM-5 flight, leaving in the early dawn hours from Pasco. Between 4,000 and 6,000 cheering people sent the pilot off with 207 pounds (94 kg) of mail.[citation needed]
Later historyedit
Varney added a Breese-Wilde Model 5[3] and replaced its original Swallows with Stearman C3s and thereafter upgraded as new equipment became available. Subsequent aircraft included the larger Stearman M-2 Speedmail and the Boeing Model 40 dedicated mail planes, and finally the more modern Boeing 247 twin-engine monoplane. Arriving in 1933, the 247 greatly expanded Varney's ability to carry passengers as well as mail.
Varney soon added Salt Lake City, Portland, and Seattle to its route.
In 1934, the Air Mail scandal resulted in the passage of the Air Mail Act which forbade aircraft manufacturers from operating airlines. As a result, United Aircraft and Transport Corporation was broken up. The airlines group became United Airlines. Since Varney was a part of United, the founding year of United is 1926, and making United the oldest commercial airline in the United States.
Continental Airlinesedit
Following cancellation of all domestic airmail contracts by the Roosevelt administration in 1934, Robert F. Six learned of an opportunity to buy into the Southwest Division of Varney Speed Lines which needed money to handle its newly acquired Pueblo-El Paso route. Six was introduced to Louis Mueller, who had helped found the Southwest Division of Varney in 1934, and bought into the airline with US$90,000 becoming general manager on July 5, 1936. The carrier was renamed Continental Air Lines (later changed to "Airlines") on July 8, 1937.[5][6][page needed] Six changed the name to "Continental" because he wanted the airline name to reflect his desire to have the airline fly all directions throughout the United States. Decades later, United (the direct successor to Varney) would merge with Continental as well.[7]
varney, lines, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, april, 2023,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Varney Air Lines news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2023 Learn how and when to remove this message Varney Air Lines was an American airline company that started service on April 6 1926 as an airmail carrier Formed by Walter Varney the airline was based in Boise Idaho United States 1 The airline is one of the predecessors of United Airlines 2 Varney Air LinesSwallow J 5 built 1924 with markings of CAM 5 as operated by Varney Airlines displayed at the Museum of Flight Boeing Field Seattle May 1989Commenced operationsApril 6 1926 as Varney Air Lines May 1934 as Varney Speed Lines Ceased operationsMarch 28 1931 renamed United Airlines July 8 1937 renamed Continental Airlines Parent companyUnited Airlines Contents 1 Historical background 2 First flight 3 Later history 3 1 Continental Airlines 4 See also 5 References 6 Further readingHistorical background edit nbsp Walter T Varney founder of predecessors of Continental Airlines and United Airlines 1921 In 1925 the Congress passed HR 7064 entitled An Act to encourage commercial aviation and to authorize the Postmaster General to contract for Air Mail Service aka The Kelly Act which directed the U S Post Office Department to contract with private airlines to carry the mail over designated routes many of which connected with the Government operated Transcontinental Air Mail route between New York and San Francisco Varney won the contract for CAM 5 as the only bidder Its first flight under contract with the USPOD was from Pasco Washington to Elko Nevada with an intermediate stop in Boise That air freight contract grew into the birth of one of the world s biggest airlines Pasco at the time was a rail center more or less midway between Portland Seattle and Spokane Mail trains leaving those cities in the evening arrived in Pasco early the next morning Mail could be transferred to and from the biplanes cutting coast to coast delivery by days This was the logic for basing the CAM service in Pasco First flight edit nbsp Covers flown on the first flights eastbound and westbound over CAM 5 Pilot Leon D Cuddeback flew the first eastbound CAM 5 flight leaving in the early dawn hours from Pasco Between 4 000 and 6 000 cheering people sent the pilot off with 207 pounds 94 kg of mail citation needed Later history editVarney added a Breese Wilde Model 5 3 and replaced its original Swallows with Stearman C3s and thereafter upgraded as new equipment became available Subsequent aircraft included the larger Stearman M 2 Speedmail and the Boeing Model 40 dedicated mail planes and finally the more modern Boeing 247 twin engine monoplane Arriving in 1933 the 247 greatly expanded Varney s ability to carry passengers as well as mail Varney soon added Salt Lake City Portland and Seattle to its route In 1930 Varney was acquired by United Aircraft and Transport Corporation itself formed by a merger of Boeing and Pratt amp Whitney Aircraft and folded into its airlines group along with the other acquired airlines Pacific Air Transport Boeing and National Air Transport 4 page needed In 1934 the Air Mail scandal resulted in the passage of the Air Mail Act which forbade aircraft manufacturers from operating airlines As a result United Aircraft and Transport Corporation was broken up The airlines group became United Airlines Since Varney was a part of United the founding year of United is 1926 and making United the oldest commercial airline in the United States Continental Airlines edit Following cancellation of all domestic airmail contracts by the Roosevelt administration in 1934 Robert F Six learned of an opportunity to buy into the Southwest Division of Varney Speed Lines which needed money to handle its newly acquired Pueblo El Paso route Six was introduced to Louis Mueller who had helped found the Southwest Division of Varney in 1934 and bought into the airline with US 90 000 becoming general manager on July 5 1936 The carrier was renamed Continental Air Lines later changed to Airlines on July 8 1937 5 6 page needed Six changed the name to Continental because he wanted the airline name to reflect his desire to have the airline fly all directions throughout the United States Decades later United the direct successor to Varney would merge with Continental as well 7 See also editList of companies based in Idaho List of defunct airlines of the United States Swan Island Municipal Airport United States airmail serviceReferences edit Davies R E G 1998 Airlines of the United States since 1914 Smithsonian Institution Press pp 42 43 ISBN 1 888962 08 9 30 Years Ago Idaho Was on First Airmail Route Lewiston Morning Tribune Associated Press April 6 1956 p 11 United Airlines Executive Air Traveller PDF Delta Mike Airfield Retrieved February 4 2024 Brady Tim 2000 The American Aviation Experience A History SIU Press ISBN 9780809323715 Serling Robert J 1974 Maverick The story of Robert Six and Continental Airlines Doubleday amp Company ISBN 0 385 04057 1 Davies R E G 1984 Continental Airlines the First Fifty Years 1934 1984 Pioneer Publications Continental Facts Continental July 2009 Archived from the original on July 19 2010 Retrieved February 8 2010 Further reading editTillman Barrett 1971 Six Million Miles The Varney Airlines Story Journal of the American Aviation Historical Society Fall Winter 1971 Portals nbsp United States nbsp Companies nbsp Aviation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Varney Air Lines amp oldid 1223884308, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
